How to see the first 10 minutes of new film ‘Exodus 1991’ TODAY!
Published July 20, 2021
Ethiopia was in the midst of a brutal civil war in 1991 when Israel decided to launch an intrepid mission that would bring 14,325 Ethiopian Jews to Israel over the course of 36 hours. The covert operation used 35 aircraft to do so, with the Israeli Air Force and its national carrier El Al having stripped its planes of seats to cram in as many souls on board as possible. It was accomplished while Yitzhak Shamir was prime minister.
While “Operation Solomon” was the third major mission (after “Operations Moses” in 1984 and “Operation Joshua” in 1985) bringing Ethiopian immigrants to Israel, it was also the largest and most complex aliyah mission to date, according to those involved.
The Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Mossad and the Israel Defense Forces all worked alongside the Jewish Federation of North America and the American Association for Ethiopian Jews to bring this group of men, women, and children home and save them from a fate where, at best, they were certain to be subjected to political upheaval.
New Film
Now, The Jewish Agency for Israel, invites you to an exclusive sneak peek of the first 10 minutes of the new film “Exodus 1991,” based on the true story of Operation Solomon.
Using documentary footage and reenactments, this feature-length film follows the Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, Asher Naim, as he navigates the treacherous world of bureaucracy and politics in a region racked by civil war.
Part historical drama, part documentary, the film blurs the lines between past and present to look beyond the euphoric salvation of Ethiopian Jewry. It portrays the transformation of an individual whose calm diplomatic demeanor fades as he confronts endless obstacles while orchestrating the perilous rescue mission. On a more universal level, the film explores challenging questions surrounding cultural identity, the politics of immigration, and the hardships that remain for these immigrants, and the others that followed, to this day.
An Unlikely Savior
Asher Naim arrived in Ethiopia with almost no knowledge of the country’s Jews. Little could he imagine the role he would play in changing the destiny of this ancient Jewish community. After practicing Judaism in Ethiopia for thousands of years, the community found itself in mortal danger, threatened by civil war and humanitarian disaster as the government of the country’s murderous dictator, Mengistu Haile Mariam, began to collapse.
Ambassador Naim found himself at the center of negotiations to save an entire people. Against all odds, he managed to stall negotiations with Mengistu and hold down the fort at the overwhelmed Israeli embassy. On May 23, 1991, with rebels closing in on the capital, the first Israeli planes landed at Addis Ababa airport.
In the 36 hours that followed, 14,325 souls from this 3,000-year-old community were successfully airlifted to Israel in a heroic and historic mission that deserves wider recognition.
Why Making this Film is Critical
Exodus 1991 is not just a story of epic rescue. Rather, it highlights a fundamental principle of Israel’s existence: to leave no Jew behind. While many countries turn immigrants away, Israel does the opposite, rescuing those in danger and offering a home to those seeking a better life.
With the recent release of the spy film The Red Sea Diving Resort, the story of Ethiopian Jewry and the improbable mission to bring them home has captured the world’s imagination and received widespread coverage.
There has never been a better time to tell this compelling tale.
